We have had Cooper’s on and off for years. The birds are aware, but continue to use the feeders. If the hawks stay awhile, the other birds get wise to them. The hawks adapt by changing tactics. One winter we had an adult coop stay until spring. Initially, he flew over the roof of the house to attack the feeders. That stopped working, so he hid under a shrub and flew up at the birds. I flushed him every time I filled the feeders. That stopped working so he changed up again. We often have Mourning Doves on the ground under the feeders. The hawk figured out an exact angle to fly at them that spooked them into our storm door. I was washing dishes and heard a bang on the door. Looked down and saw the hawk staring at me. His dove, not mine. He picked it up and flew off. And repeated the feat a number of times.
Grant Price
> On Mar 29, 2025, at 9:20 AM, John McCarthy and Linda Stehlik <jmcclins...> wrote: > > Jerseybirders, > A handsome Sharp-shinned Hawk is gathering branches and making a nest in the tall pine next door. It glides all around the area. One day it harassed a Red-tail until it left. What are your experiences with having a bird-eating raptor close by? I guess we will take down the feeders for now. It may be fascinating to watch, but will it drive away the house wrens and catbirds that have nested in our yard all these years? > Linda Stehlik > > List Guidelines: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind2107&L=JERSEYBI&P=R685&X=OE8E22FEF3A2B10DFE5 > List help: <jerseybi-request...> > List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi > NJ Bird Records Committee: www.njbrc.com
